Clair de Rêve - Clearly of Dreams - is situated on the Ile St. Louis, Paris; a stones throw from Quai dʼ Anjour. Gazing through the plate glass windows you can see the life sized marionettes for which this shop and its proprietress, Madame Lepardieu, is famous. What is not apparent to the casual window shopper is Madame Leapardieuʼs passion; her teddy bears.

For these she collects snippets of Brussels lace, chiffon, silk, taffeta, satin, diamanté and seed pearls; to create ruffled costumes with rosettes - reminiscent of the court of Marie-Antoinette.

Every bear she fabricates is in answer to an anguished prayer which vibrates across the Universe and enters her dreams. Sewn within their chubby bodies are the three graces encompassing altruistic love. She embroiders her bears with healing gifts, then sends them off on their mission to bring peace to the lost, lonely or sorrowing souls of this planet, Earth.

Madame Lepardieu has studied philosophy and read the words of existentialist Friedrich Nietzsche...He who has a Why to live can Bear any How.

If she chooses to stress a certain word or missed something in the translation; that is entirely her prerogative.

Given the opportunity, I am sure she would quote Rene Descartes... Cogito ergo sum (I think - therefore I am) as she stuffs her bears with thoughts for a better world; a world without suffering.

This, then is a story about one of these bears.